Are cars less characterful than they used to be?
Discussion
By way of an update, the window winder has now been installed without any skinned knuckles or use of cuss-words (well, not any really bad ones).
The 6 is going away for a few weeks, while we carry out an overhaul of the kids' bedrooms, because the garage will be required for storage. This means several things:
- I will naturally use the opportunity of a vacant garage to have a bit of a tidy up and sweep out the leaves that somehow manage to find their way under the door, even when it isn't autumn.
- As the journey to its temporary home (my in-laws') is about 75 miles, I checked all fluid levels etc, none of which were cause for concern. This will be the longest single journey since collecting the car, however, so I'm a little nervous although I have no reason to believe anything untoward will happen. I'd prefer it not to be raining though, as the 6 is about as water-tight as a colander.
- After doing the millennial thing and watching a YouTube video on greasing (rather, oiling) the front trunnions, I have ordered some angled grease nipples* for these to replace the inconvenient grub screws fitted as standard.
- While rummaging in the boot to check I had tools, jack and wheelbrace I noticed the boot floor wobbling around on its mountings. The design is similar to my old Fiesta Mk1, in that it features wooden planks resting on metal brackets. Once slightly warped, these planks don't sit quite so flush, so I dug out the trim tape I bought to cure a rattle on my E Class and applied it to the 6. Hey presto - much less rattling from the rear end (always something to strive for as you get older
).
I'll report again once the 6 is safely installed in Suffolk.
* Predictable sniggering when I mentioned the phrase "grease nipple" to Mrs Banana
The 6 is going away for a few weeks, while we carry out an overhaul of the kids' bedrooms, because the garage will be required for storage. This means several things:
- I will naturally use the opportunity of a vacant garage to have a bit of a tidy up and sweep out the leaves that somehow manage to find their way under the door, even when it isn't autumn.
- As the journey to its temporary home (my in-laws') is about 75 miles, I checked all fluid levels etc, none of which were cause for concern. This will be the longest single journey since collecting the car, however, so I'm a little nervous although I have no reason to believe anything untoward will happen. I'd prefer it not to be raining though, as the 6 is about as water-tight as a colander.
- After doing the millennial thing and watching a YouTube video on greasing (rather, oiling) the front trunnions, I have ordered some angled grease nipples* for these to replace the inconvenient grub screws fitted as standard.
- While rummaging in the boot to check I had tools, jack and wheelbrace I noticed the boot floor wobbling around on its mountings. The design is similar to my old Fiesta Mk1, in that it features wooden planks resting on metal brackets. Once slightly warped, these planks don't sit quite so flush, so I dug out the trim tape I bought to cure a rattle on my E Class and applied it to the 6. Hey presto - much less rattling from the rear end (always something to strive for as you get older
).I'll report again once the 6 is safely installed in Suffolk.
* Predictable sniggering when I mentioned the phrase "grease nipple" to Mrs Banana
Are cars less characterful than they used to be?
My answer is no. I dont think it has anything to do with age.
I dont think I would find any of these cars below particularly characterful if I was stood in this car park in the 30's. They all look the same to me 90 years later.
I purchased a very characterful car the other day. Crap, but characterful none the less. An Axiam.
|https://thumbsnap.com/9MBQqA3p[/url]
I would describe my daily driver (below) as characterful as well.[url]
However when I am in a modern car park confronted by 500 Nissan Qashqais, I am could almost agree that modern cars have lost their character, just like in the 1930's.
My answer is no. I dont think it has anything to do with age.
I dont think I would find any of these cars below particularly characterful if I was stood in this car park in the 30's. They all look the same to me 90 years later.
I purchased a very characterful car the other day. Crap, but characterful none the less. An Axiam.
|https://thumbsnap.com/9MBQqA3p[/url]I would describe my daily driver (below) as characterful as well.[url]
However when I am in a modern car park confronted by 500 Nissan Qashqais, I am could almost agree that modern cars have lost their character, just like in the 1930's.
New Year Update
The 6 has been hibernating in Suffolk at my in-laws', safely tucked up in a garage with some vintage bikes and a lot of beer. The journey there back in October was very wet but the 6 handled it well, until the inevitable hold up on the A14 due to roadworks. No 1 son and I were nervously watching the temperature gauge creep upwards but it maintained its composure and, once released from the jam, settled back down nicely and we completed the trip without drama.
Over Christmas and New Year I started it a couple of times, which involved a bit of cranking to pull fuel through but always resulted in it firing first go. The smalls enjoyed sitting in it, making brum brum noises:
Fast forward to last weekend and the long-awaited opportunity to bring it home. The weather was dry, my garage was finally free from all the stuff we've been storing in it and I had no other commitments.
No 1 son and I set off after lunch, the thinking being to complete the 1.5 hrs or so journey before having to resort to headlights, which still haven't been adjusted properly. All was going swimmingly until we hit the A421 at the Black Cat roundabout. From the previous day we knew of the diversion through Great Barford, but once back on the 421 we were immediately diverted back off and through Bedford. This posed three problems:
1. I don't know Bedford very well so we had to follow the herd a bit
2. The level of traffic meant I was back to watching the temperature gauge
3. I needed a wee
Fortunately none of the above proved to be the problem I feared they might become and we made it home some 20 mins later, deeply impressed by the 6's performance. I shouldn't really be surprised: it was conceived as a grand touring car so it was in its element really, but I'm always a little nervous with 50 year old cooling systems, axles, etc etc
Despite all that, I'm minded to sell it this year. It was a bucket list car which I've enjoyed, but the dawning reality yesterday was that it's too small. I'm 6'1" and No 1 son, at 16, is the same height and only going one way. Onlookers are bemused when this tiny car rocks up and two great big blokes unfold themselves out of it like the fronds of a fern. Before I do anything though, the to do list looks like this:
- Acquire an MoT. I let it lapse (it's exempt, obviously) but I need to get my plate back off it
- Re-veneer the dash. I've watched one or two videos of this and it appears to be do-able at home
- Machine polish the paintwork
The 6 has been hibernating in Suffolk at my in-laws', safely tucked up in a garage with some vintage bikes and a lot of beer. The journey there back in October was very wet but the 6 handled it well, until the inevitable hold up on the A14 due to roadworks. No 1 son and I were nervously watching the temperature gauge creep upwards but it maintained its composure and, once released from the jam, settled back down nicely and we completed the trip without drama.
Over Christmas and New Year I started it a couple of times, which involved a bit of cranking to pull fuel through but always resulted in it firing first go. The smalls enjoyed sitting in it, making brum brum noises:
Fast forward to last weekend and the long-awaited opportunity to bring it home. The weather was dry, my garage was finally free from all the stuff we've been storing in it and I had no other commitments.
No 1 son and I set off after lunch, the thinking being to complete the 1.5 hrs or so journey before having to resort to headlights, which still haven't been adjusted properly. All was going swimmingly until we hit the A421 at the Black Cat roundabout. From the previous day we knew of the diversion through Great Barford, but once back on the 421 we were immediately diverted back off and through Bedford. This posed three problems:
1. I don't know Bedford very well so we had to follow the herd a bit
2. The level of traffic meant I was back to watching the temperature gauge
3. I needed a wee
Fortunately none of the above proved to be the problem I feared they might become and we made it home some 20 mins later, deeply impressed by the 6's performance. I shouldn't really be surprised: it was conceived as a grand touring car so it was in its element really, but I'm always a little nervous with 50 year old cooling systems, axles, etc etc
Despite all that, I'm minded to sell it this year. It was a bucket list car which I've enjoyed, but the dawning reality yesterday was that it's too small. I'm 6'1" and No 1 son, at 16, is the same height and only going one way. Onlookers are bemused when this tiny car rocks up and two great big blokes unfold themselves out of it like the fronds of a fern. Before I do anything though, the to do list looks like this:
- Acquire an MoT. I let it lapse (it's exempt, obviously) but I need to get my plate back off it
- Re-veneer the dash. I've watched one or two videos of this and it appears to be do-able at home
- Machine polish the paintwork
I feel for you. I am now on the fourth ring binder of bills on my E-type spread over nearly forty years of ownership. I had the engine rebuilt ten years back by a well-known company, and it seemed to run well. Last year I got worried, and found that this well known company in Wales had folded, and that I had to spend over £3,000 (mates rates) to put it right. The value of a well-known early 1961 roadster, one of about 100 RHD roadsters remaining, is I am sure below six figures, despite the history in a Beeb film and appearing on a Queen video, plus two complete rebuilds over 30 years I paid a couple of thousand for it many moons ago, and I am certain I shall be a sure loser when it is sold this year. But then you can't put a price on happiness they say.
Being 6'1" is no excuse. 
Out of interest, what size steering wheel have you got? If it's the original Routemaster size then that makes a big difference to the crampedness. I had a 12" steering wheel in mine and I think it would have been horrible without it.
I should talk though, I'm thinking about flogging both of mine
Out of interest, what size steering wheel have you got? If it's the original Routemaster size then that makes a big difference to the crampedness. I had a 12" steering wheel in mine and I think it would have been horrible without it.
I should talk though, I'm thinking about flogging both of mine
I think modern cars are very dull, super cars down to standard, all look similar, no real identity and many just look a bit garish. When I think about my lottery win garage, it would be predominantly made of cars from the 90s. I don't think I would take anything from the last 10-20 years plus other than a discovery for working on our farm. Once you add in EVs and you lose engine types and sounds they are even worse.
Yertis said:
Being 6'1" is no excuse.
Out of interest, what size steering wheel have you got? If it's the original Routemaster size then that makes a big difference to the crampedness. I had a 12" steering wheel in mine and I think it would have been horrible without it.
I should talk though, I'm thinking about flogging both of mine
Ha! Steering wheels...Out of interest, what size steering wheel have you got? If it's the original Routemaster size then that makes a big difference to the crampedness. I had a 12" steering wheel in mine and I think it would have been horrible without it.
I should talk though, I'm thinking about flogging both of mine
I had a bit of an obsession with these. At purchase the car was equipped with a 12" Motalita, wood rim, that made the steering comically heavy. I'm a big guy and have owned many cars without PAS so I knew what I was getting into, but this was a real pain to park. The wood didn't match the peeling dashboard veneer so I swapped to the 12" Motalita with black leather rim that was in the boot. This looked better but was a bit tatty. I started searching for steering wheels on eBay.
Up popped this beauty:
I loved the style - reminiscent of old Lotus Cortinas and Elans etc. The rim is delaminating a bit but it looks good and of course makes the steering lighter. However, it's 15" across, so it eats into legroom a bit.
I then started playing with tyre pressures a bit, and discovered (belatedly) that the steering becomes very manageable with even a couple more psi in the fronts. So I started looking for a smaller wheel - somewhere between the 12" Motolitas and the Titanic helm currently fitted. This cropped up on eBay:
It's about the right size and was actually designed for marine applications, by Italian firm Luisi. I Googled them and they seem to be quite well-known. I love the style of it but will need to strip off the black paint before fitment as I want it silver. There's a few imperfections in the wood rim which will need some restoration but the biggest problem is the boss size. I've yet to find a boss that'll fit, although I haven't been looking for a few months now.
Tom8 said:
I think modern cars are very dull, super cars down to standard, all look similar, no real identity and many just look a bit garish. When I think about my lottery win garage, it would be predominantly made of cars from the 90s. I don't think I would take anything from the last 10-20 years plus other than a discovery for working on our farm. Once you add in EVs and you lose engine types and sounds they are even worse.
I sort of agree with you, but I'm aware there is some really good, eye-catching design creeping in at the moment. Often from unlikely sources: some of the new Kias and Hyundais look tremendous, as do some Peugeots now they're out of their own malaise era.For me, the problem is that where designers were once able to style sleek-looking cars, they now increasingly have to make the SUV shape attractive, complete with its high CoG (often to accommodate batteries) and inherent lack of sleekness.
I applaud your lottery win aspirations: I'd probably have a cut-off around the early nineties too.
ZedLeg said:
Supercars have always looked garish, that's the point.
No they haven't. Miura, Daytona, Boxer, 288GTO – I wouldn't say any of those is garish. Even the first generation Countach wasn't garish. Bit weird maybe but not what I'd call garish. IMO.Things started to go awry in the '80s with the Testosterossa and when Lambo stuck air dams and wings and wotnot all over their cars.
Turbobanana said:
Tom8 said:
I think modern cars are very dull, super cars down to standard, all look similar, no real identity and many just look a bit garish. When I think about my lottery win garage, it would be predominantly made of cars from the 90s. I don't think I would take anything from the last 10-20 years plus other than a discovery for working on our farm. Once you add in EVs and you lose engine types and sounds they are even worse.
I sort of agree with you, but I'm aware there is some really good, eye-catching design creeping in at the moment. Often from unlikely sources: some of the new Kias and Hyundais look tremendous, as do some Peugeots now they're out of their own malaise era.For me, the problem is that where designers were once able to style sleek-looking cars, they now increasingly have to make the SUV shape attractive, complete with its high CoG (often to accommodate batteries) and inherent lack of sleekness.
I applaud your lottery win aspirations: I'd probably have a cut-off around the early nineties too.
Yertis said:
ZedLeg said:
Supercars have always looked garish, that's the point.
No they haven't. Miura, Daytona, Boxer, 288GTO – I wouldn't say any of those is garish. Even the first generation Countach wasn't garish. Bit weird maybe but not what I'd call garish. IMO.Things started to go awry in the '80s with the Testosterossa and when Lambo stuck air dams and wings and wotnot all over their cars.
No one ever seems to realise that these moans aren’t new. As long as there have been things, oldheads have moaned about new things being s
te 
Well it's been a while, so I thought an update might be in order.
When I last wrote in January, the car was living in rural Suffolk in a garage full of beer. I often think of moving in there myself but it was temporary accommodation while we carried out some home improvements and needed the garage space.
I repatriated the 6 later in January and it's been doing some decent local runs since then, quite happily and without drama. I was aware, however, that the smell of petrol I'd noted early in my ownership was getting worse. It seemed to worsen after it had been filled up, so I used that as an opportunity to explore fitting the replacement fuel filler cap I'd won on eBay, complete with a lock and key. Easy enough job, but it revealed that the short, squat hose from the filler to the tank was perished. No wonder I could smell petrol.
James Paddock was the cheapest source of a (still expensive) replacement, which arrived a few days later and was quickly fitted, instantly ridding the cabin of fumes. But the garage still smelt of petrol...
...which was no wonder, as the front carburettor was leaking badly. Stromberg, in their wisdom, saw fit to install a plug into the bottom of the float chamber, the seal or plastic lugs of which can fail, dropping fuel onto various suspension parts. Thinking about it, the car always took a few turns to start, which would be explained by the need to refill a float chamber each time it was cranked over.
I'd got a pair of new-old-stock car rebuild kits, but didn't fancy the job myself. If I was going to farm this out, I may as well farm out some other tasks:
- Check valve clearances, as it always sounded a bit tappety
- Check gearbox and axle oil levels
- Fix the detached window regulator (driver's side) and inoperative door handle (passenger side)
- Obtain an MoT
Wait, an MoT? Isn't it exempt? Well yes it is, but I like to have an MoT for safety and I may need to sell it, meaning the need for the cherished plate to come off.
Why sell? The car is great, and after all the work now drives really well and much more quietly with correctly-adjusted tappets. It's even proved itself over longer journeys. The problem, matron, is to do with size and stiffness.
Five years ago I broke my femur, following the immediate and unplanned cessation of skiing activities. Although well and truly fixed (I have enough titanium in my leg to be worth a bit in scrap metal) my knee sometimes gives trouble and is less flexible than it used to be. I'm receiving treatment, so I'll monitor, but the problem is not so much the height of the car, but the shortness of the doors. Getting in and out with any degree of dignity is becoming more difficult, so I may have a go at advertising it over the summer to see what happens. Watch this space.
Meanwhile, my son and I went to our first car show yesterday, the ambitiously-titled Olney Motorama, just outside Milton Keynes and opposite Desmond Smail's Aston emporium. It was a surprisingly good day out, with around 100 cars and a lovely, chilled atmosphere. Money raised would go to support Unkranian charities, so a worthwhile effort.
While we were never in the running for a gong, we did get a lot of people ask about the car and want to sit in it, but the 6's condition was well and truly put in its place when we were parked next to Alan Hames' gorgeous Primrose Yellow V12 E-Type. He's owned it from new (52 years) and it's a multiple concours winner that is, literally, better than new. Now 84, Alan was happy for anyone who asked politely to sit in the car and rightly carried away the 1970-Present Day award for best in show.
Interestingly, E-Types were the most numerous car there (at least 7 I can recall), outshining MGBs (3, I think), and TR6s (2). We were the only GT6, although there was a Bond Equipe which was nice to see.
All I need to do now is replace the flasher unit that was replaced to get it through an MoT, but has since failed.
Onward.
When I last wrote in January, the car was living in rural Suffolk in a garage full of beer. I often think of moving in there myself but it was temporary accommodation while we carried out some home improvements and needed the garage space.
I repatriated the 6 later in January and it's been doing some decent local runs since then, quite happily and without drama. I was aware, however, that the smell of petrol I'd noted early in my ownership was getting worse. It seemed to worsen after it had been filled up, so I used that as an opportunity to explore fitting the replacement fuel filler cap I'd won on eBay, complete with a lock and key. Easy enough job, but it revealed that the short, squat hose from the filler to the tank was perished. No wonder I could smell petrol.
James Paddock was the cheapest source of a (still expensive) replacement, which arrived a few days later and was quickly fitted, instantly ridding the cabin of fumes. But the garage still smelt of petrol...
...which was no wonder, as the front carburettor was leaking badly. Stromberg, in their wisdom, saw fit to install a plug into the bottom of the float chamber, the seal or plastic lugs of which can fail, dropping fuel onto various suspension parts. Thinking about it, the car always took a few turns to start, which would be explained by the need to refill a float chamber each time it was cranked over.
I'd got a pair of new-old-stock car rebuild kits, but didn't fancy the job myself. If I was going to farm this out, I may as well farm out some other tasks:
- Check valve clearances, as it always sounded a bit tappety
- Check gearbox and axle oil levels
- Fix the detached window regulator (driver's side) and inoperative door handle (passenger side)
- Obtain an MoT
Wait, an MoT? Isn't it exempt? Well yes it is, but I like to have an MoT for safety and I may need to sell it, meaning the need for the cherished plate to come off.
Why sell? The car is great, and after all the work now drives really well and much more quietly with correctly-adjusted tappets. It's even proved itself over longer journeys. The problem, matron, is to do with size and stiffness.
Five years ago I broke my femur, following the immediate and unplanned cessation of skiing activities. Although well and truly fixed (I have enough titanium in my leg to be worth a bit in scrap metal) my knee sometimes gives trouble and is less flexible than it used to be. I'm receiving treatment, so I'll monitor, but the problem is not so much the height of the car, but the shortness of the doors. Getting in and out with any degree of dignity is becoming more difficult, so I may have a go at advertising it over the summer to see what happens. Watch this space.
Meanwhile, my son and I went to our first car show yesterday, the ambitiously-titled Olney Motorama, just outside Milton Keynes and opposite Desmond Smail's Aston emporium. It was a surprisingly good day out, with around 100 cars and a lovely, chilled atmosphere. Money raised would go to support Unkranian charities, so a worthwhile effort.
While we were never in the running for a gong, we did get a lot of people ask about the car and want to sit in it, but the 6's condition was well and truly put in its place when we were parked next to Alan Hames' gorgeous Primrose Yellow V12 E-Type. He's owned it from new (52 years) and it's a multiple concours winner that is, literally, better than new. Now 84, Alan was happy for anyone who asked politely to sit in the car and rightly carried away the 1970-Present Day award for best in show.
Interestingly, E-Types were the most numerous car there (at least 7 I can recall), outshining MGBs (3, I think), and TR6s (2). We were the only GT6, although there was a Bond Equipe which was nice to see.
All I need to do now is replace the flasher unit that was replaced to get it through an MoT, but has since failed.
Onward.
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